CHARLES DICKENS DOMBEY AND SON CHAPTER I Dombey and ...

eyes away.
'I am directed to request,' he said, 'that the new housekeeper--Mrs.
Pipchin, I think, is the name--'
Nothing escaped him. He saw in an instant, that she was another slight of
Mr. Dombey's on his wife.
'--may be informed that Mr. Dombey wishes to have his bed prepared in his
own apartments down stairs, as he prefers those rooms to any other. I shall
return to Mr. Dombey almost immediately. That every possible attention has
been paid to his comfort, and that he is the object of every possible
solicitude, I need not assure you, Madam. Let me again say, there is no
cause for the least alarm. Even you may be quite at ease, believe me.'
He bowed himself out, with his extremest show of deference and conciliation;
and having returned to Mr. Dombey's room, and there arranged for a carriage
being sent after him to the City, mounted his horse again, and rode slowly
thither. He was very thoughtful as he went along, and very thoughtful there,
and very thoughtful in the carriage on his way back to the place where Mr.
Dombey had been left. It was only when sitting by that gentleman's couch
that he was quite himself again, and conscious of his teeth.
About the time of twilight, Mr. Dombey, grievously afflicted with aches and
pains, was helped into his carriage, and propped with cloaks and pillows on
one side of it, while his confidential agent bore him company upon the
other. As he was not to be shaken, they moved at little more than a foot
pace; and hence it was quite dark when he was brought home. Mrs. Pipchin,
bitter and grim, and not oblivious of the Peruvian mines, as the
establishment in general had good reason to know, received him at the door,
and freshened the domestics with several little sprinklings of wordy
vinegar, while they assisted in conveying him to his room. Mr. Carker
remained in attendance until he was safe in bed, and then, as he declined to
receive any female visitor, but the excellent Ogress who presided over his
household, waited on Mrs. Dombey once more, with his report on her lord's
condition.